Game



Oct. 20, 1936. G. ERICKSON GAME ` Filed April 5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Oct. 20, 1936. G. ERlc-:KsoN

GAME

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Oct. 20, 1936. Y Q ERICKSQN 2,057,888

GAME

vFiled April 5, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 4 G. ERICKSON Oct. 20, 1936.

GAME

Filed April 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www @N www,

Patented st. 20, i936 '-ATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to a game or amusement device and has for itsprincipal object the provision of an entertaining game.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus inwhich two controlling factors, which may arise during the play, arecombined to provide a variable result depending upon the nature of saidfactors.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game simulating ahorse race, which can be played in a competitive manner by two or moreteams or parties.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus havingtwo counters or recorders and automatic means whereby each counter isconnected operatively in alternation to permit the score of each playerto be recorded separately.

This invention will readily be understood from the following descriptionof a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of the gameapparatus enclosed within a cabinet;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, showingthe mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of the mechanism removed from thecabinet;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the mechanism taken on the line 4-4of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an inverted sectional plan taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail View taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '1 is a sectional detail View taken on the line 1 1 of Fig 2;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail View taken on the line IIl-I of Fig. 4.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings comprises a horseracing game in which the player selects a particular horse to win.Automatic means are provided for determining the odds for thatparticular horse. In the event that the players horse wins, theappropriate number of the odds indicated for that play is added to thereading of a counter. As will be more fully described, the apparatuscomprises two such counters and means whereby the counters are renderedoperative alternately with repeated operations of the machine. Thisenables the game to be played by two parties or by two teams, thereadings of the counters indicating the. success of each side. Referringto the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral II designates thecabinet in which the game apparatus is located, said cabinet preferablycomprising a glass cover I2 through which the horses I3 may be Viewedwhile the apparatus is being played. Each of the horses I3 is providedwith a distinctive color and number. A selector handle I4 on theexterior of the cabinet is employed to enable the player to select aparticu- 10 lar horse. This selector handle controls an indicator I5which indicates the color and number of the horse which has beenselected. The horses are put in motion, likewise the other parts of themachine, by means of a handle I6, also mount- 15 y ed on the exterior ofthe cabinet l I. A button I1 on the exterior of the cabinet II enablesthe counters I8 to be returned to zero reading when desired, as will bedescribed more fully hereinafter. 20

The horses I3 are mounted in a circle adjacent the periphery of a disc20. The disc 2D is relatively large and is mounted upon a small stoutdisc 2 I. The disc 2| is rigidly secured upon a shaft 23 which issupported on an elongated bearing 24 carried by the main plate 25 of theframe of the machine. From the disc 2| depends a cylinder 26 which isprovided with a series of large holes 21 corresponding in number to thenumber of horses I3. In the embodiment of the invention shown, 30l

six horses are provided and six openings 21 are formed in the skirt orcylinder 26. As best seen in Fig. 4, the openings 21 are arranged atdifferent heights in the cylinder 26, the purpose of this arrangementbeing hereinafter more fully explained. 35 Immediately beneath the disc20 and arranged concentric thereto is an annnular plate 28, the outerdiameter of which is somewhat greater than that of the disc 2U.Accordingly, the plate 28 has a peripheral margin exposed beyond the pe-40 riphery of the disc 20 and this margin carries indicia, as best shownin Fig. 1, which correspond, for example, to the odds to which theselected horse is entitled if he wins. A winning post 29 is providedwithin the cabinet and the horse H stopping at this post after the disc2 is spun, is the winning horse. The odds to which that horse isentitled are shown by the indica on the plate 28 immediately in front ofthat horse. The plate 28 is mounted on the upper end of a cylinder 30which is concentric with and arranged around the cylinder 26. Thecylinder 30 is mounted at its lower end upon a disc 3I which is providedwith a boss 32 through which passes 55 the shaft 23. The boss 32 servesas a bearing for the cylinder 3tland disc 28.

A ratchet wheel 33 is mounted on the disc 3l so that its teeth projectbeyond the cylinder 36. 'Ihe number of teeth on this ratchet wheelcorrespond to the number of indicia on the plate 28, the purpose beingto arrest the plate 28 with one of said indicia immediately in front ofthe winning horse. In the embodiment of the invention shown, thirty suchindicia are provided on the plate 28 at equal distances, and thirtyteeth are provided on the ratchet wheel 33 also at equal distances. Aratchet wheel 35 is rigidly mounted on a collar 35 which is rigidlypinned to the shaft 23 so that this ratchet wheel rotates with the disc20 and the horses I3. The ratchet wheel 34 is provided with as manyteeth as there are horses I3. These teeth, like the horses, are placedat equal distances and arranged so that engagement of the tooth by theproper detent arrests one horse at the winning post. With reference toFig. 4, it is to be noted that the disc 3l rests upon the upper end ofthe collar 35. The collar 35 has rigidly mounted thereon a ratchet wheel35 which is adapted to cooperate with a pawl 3l pivotally mounted on theratchet wheel 33 and disc 3l. This pawl is held by spring 38 in contactWith the ratchet wheel 35, as best seen in Fig. 10. As best shown inFigs. 2 and l0, the teeth of the ratchet wheels 33, 33 and 35 aredirected in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in plan.

A ratchet wheel 39 directed in the opposite didection to that of theratchet wheels 33, 34 and 36 is rigidly secured to the lower end of thecollar 35. This ratchet wheel 39 is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 45having a bell crank extention lil. The pawl 45 is pivotally mounted upona bar 52 which in turn is pivotally mounted on the shaft 23. The bellcrank arm 4I of the pawl 40 is engaged by a spring 33 which is securedto the main plate 25 of the machine. With reference to Fig. 2, it willbe noted that when the bar 42 is rotated in clockwise direction, thepawl 4U is moved away from the point of connection of the spring 43 withthe main plate 25. As a result, the nose-of the pawl 150 is broughtfirmly into contact with the ratchet wheel 39. When the bar 42 isforcibly rotated in a clockwise direction, an event which occurs in theoperation of the game, as will be more fully described, the pawl dimparts a substantial impetus to the ratchet wheel 39, causing the shaft23 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in plan.Consequently, the horses I3 are spun rapidly in4 that direction.Engagement of the ratchet wheel 33 with the pawl 31 likewise causes thecylinder 30 and disc 2B to rotate rapidly in the same direction. Thisconnection between the two rotating systems is such that the plate 28may continue to rotate after the disc 23 has become arrested, as willhereinafter be more fully discussed. It is noted that when the bar 42returns to its initial position, that is, the position shown in Fig. 2,the spring 43 is no longer tensioned, and the pawl 40 is enabled toclear the teeth at the ratchet wheel 33 so that the spinning of theshaft 23, disc 3l, and associated parts, is not impeded by the pawl 40.v

The bar 42 is provided at one end with a slot which receives a pin 35carried in a sliding bar 45. This sliding bar is located on the surfaceof the main plate 25 and is guided thereon by means of two screws ilwhich extend through slots 38 vin the sliding bar. At one end thesliding bar 46 carries a pin 4S which is engaged by the slotted end ofan arm 50. The arm 55 is rigidly mounted on a vertical shaft 5i whichextends through the plate 25 and through a plate 52 carried above and inspaced relation to the plate 25, being supported thereon by means ofposts 53. Above the plate 52 the shaft 5I has rigidly mounted thereon anarm 54. Upon the arm 54 is pivotally mounted a pawl 55 which is biasedtowards a stop 55 by a spring 57. A radial arm 53 carried by the hub ofthe handle I I5 is adapted to engage the pawl 55 so as to swing the arm515. At a certain point, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the arm58 slips off the pawl 55 and the arms 5d, 55 and bar 36 are rapidlymoved back to their initial positions. The handle I6 is returned to itsinitial position by a spring 53', the arm 58 slipping past the curvedend of the pawl 55. The bar 5d carries a spring-pressed pawl 59 which isadapted to engage the teeth of a sector bar 65 mounted on the plate 52.The relation of the pawl 59 and bar 65 is such that a full stroke mustbe made before the handle i6 can be returned. This return is effected bya spring 62 which is secured to the bar 45 and to a screw in one of theposts 53.

Thus it will be understood that when the handle I6 is actuated, it mustbe thrown to.` its fullest extent. When the arm 54 becomes disengagedfrom the pawl 6I the spring 62 throws the bar d6 forcibly towards theright, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the disc 2B and plate 28, together withthe elementsl secured thereto, are spun sharply in a counter-clockwisedirection as viewed in plan.

The bar 45 is provided with an upstanding pin 63 which is adapted toengage a lever 64 pivotally mounted on the plate 25 by means of a shaft55 upon which the bar 54 is rigidly mounted. This lever is drawn firmlyto the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, by means of a spring 65 secured tothe lever 5-4 and to a part of the main frame of the machine. When thehandle I6 is actuated, the bar llt is moved to the left, as viewed inthis figure, and the pin 53 moves the lever 54 with it. The shaft 65projects downwardly to the underside of the plate 25 and has rigidlymounted thereon a ratchet 5l, shown in'dotted lines in Fig. 5. When thelever 5d moves to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, the teeth of theratchet 61 slip past pawls 55 which are carried by a pinion 69 freelyrotatable upon the shaft 55. The pawls 68 are biased by springs intocontact with the ratchet 6l. The pinion 69 forms part of a train ofgearing whereby rotation of the shaft 65 in the opposite direction, thatis, the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, eects, throughasuitable train of gearing, the driving of a vane 'IU below the plate 25.This mechanism amounts merely to a clockwork dashpot and is well knownin this art. The effect of the vane l5 is that the return of the lever55 is relatively slow and enables the disk 20 and plate 28 to continuespinning for a substantial period of time corresponding to race period.

'I'he lever 5 5 controls the operation of a latch element il which ispivotally mounted on the plate 25 at l2. A spring I3 tends to drawthelatch element 'Ii towards latching position. The lever 64 is providedwith a nose lli which is adapted to engage an extension 'I5 on thelatching element "II, When the lever 3d is in retracted position, whichcondition is shown in Fig. 2, the nose l5 is in engagement with theextension 'I5 and the latch element is held in non-latching position.When, however, the bar 56 moves to the left, as viewed in this figure,the latching element is free to move under the action of the spring 13towards latching engagement with the down-turned ends of the threelevers 16, 11, 18. These levers are pivotally supported on a post 19carried by the plate 25. The levers 16, 11, 18 are biased by springs 88so. that their operative ends 8 l, 82 and 83 are biased towards theratchet wheels 34 and 33. The operative end 8| of the lever 16 isprovided with a roller which is adapted to move into the path of theteeth of the ratchet wheel 34 when the latch element 1| moves tounlatched position. The lever 11, at its operative end 82, carries asimilar roller which is adapted when it is unlatched to move into thepath of the teeth of ratchet wheel 33. In the event that the lastmentioned roller becomes arrested at the topI of a tooth, the downturnedoperative end of the lever 18 strikes the ratchet wheel 33 and causes itto rotate slightly so that the roller at the operative end 82 of thelever 11 may move into the recess between two teeth of the ratchet wheel33. The down-turned ends of the levers 16, 11, 18 are arranged so thatthe latching element 1| rst releases the lever 15 so as to arrest thehorses, then the lever 11 is released to arrest the plate 28, and thenthe lever 18 isl released so as to align the cylinder 30 accurately.

The latch member 1| is provided with a slot 84. It is also provided witha projecting lip 85 which is adapted to engage and latch the extremity85 of a lever 81 pivotally mounted on the plate 25. At the opposite endof the lever 81 is anupstanding tooth 88 which tends to move into thepath of the ratchet wheel 34. The lever 81 is released after the lever16 and in the event that the roller at the operative end 8| of the lever18 should become arrested at the peak of a tooth on the ratchet wheel34, then the lever 81 will strike against one of the teeth of theratchet wheel 34 so that the roller at the operative end 8| of the lever16 may dropI into a recess between adjacent teeth of the ratch wheel 34.'Ihe lever 16 has rigidly secured thereto a forwardly extending arm 89which lies in the path of a pin 90 which projects upwardly from the bar46. The arm 89 carries an upstanding member 9| which is adapted toengage the two levers 11 and When the bar 46 is moved to the left, asviewed in Fig. 2, the pin 90 engages the arm 89 and swings the threelevers 16, 11, 18 into line with the slot 34 on the latch element 1|.The lever 81 carries an upstanding projection 92 which is also engagedby the arm 89 so as to swing its projection 86 into position so that itmay be engaged by the lip 85 of the latch member 1|. The latch member 1|is moved by the spring 13 into latching engagement with the levers 16,11, 18 and 81, the nose 14 being moved away from the extension 15 of thelatching element 1| as the lever 64 moves to the left with the bar 46.The lever 81 is biased away from latched position by means of a spring93.

The cylinder 30 is provided with openings 94 arranged in series aroundits circumference. The

\ number of series of openings corresponds to the number of horses,there being six series of openings in the embodiment shown, as will bestbe seen in Fig. 4. The openings 94 are displaced vertically around theperiphery of the cylinder, as will best be seen' in Fig. 3. This spacingof the openings is correlated with the indicia on the margin of theplate 28. The relation of these openings may best be explained withreference to Fig. 4. The horse on the left-hand side of this figure isthe selected horse and has won, being stopped at the winning post by themechanism previously described. As a result of this selection by theoperator before the play, the linger 95 nds itself in alignment with theopening 21 corresponding to that horse. There is always one opening 94in alignment with the finger 95, this being insured by the accuratestopping of the cylinder 30 which has previously been described.Consequently, the finger 95, when projected to the right as viewed inFig. 4, will extend through that particular opening 94 and through theparticular opening 21. The extent of its projection depends upon thevertical placement of the particular opening 94 since the operative endof the nger 95 is stepped. If the selected horse does not win, there isno opening 21 in alignment with the finger 95 and this linger isarrested, as will be understood more clearly from the subsequentdescription, by contact with the exterior of the cylinder 26. If thehorse wins with the lowest odds, the finger 95 may proceed to the rightuntil the rst step engages the exterior of the cylinder 30. If the horsewins with the next highest odds, the nger may proceed to the second stepand so forth, with results hereinafter to be described. I'he finger 95has a number of vertical positions corresponding to the number of horsesand the number of series of openings 94.

The iinger 95 is provided with two slots 96 through which extend twoflatheaded pins 91. The slots 96 are horizontal so that the nger movesin the horizontal direction. The pins 91 are carried by a plate 98 whichextends vertically through a slot 99 in the plate 25. At its top andbottom the plate 98 has laterally extended iianges |09 which areprovided with openings. Through these openings |00 passes a vertical bar|0| which is supported by a casting |02 rigidly mounted on the plate 25.This casting provides upper and lower bearings for a shaft |03 whichpasses through an opening in the top flange |00 of the plate 98 andserves to preserve this plate in vertical condition.

Along its forward edge the plate 98 is provided with semi-circularnotches |04, which are six in number corresponding to the number ofhorses. These notches are equally spaced, the distance between thembeing equal to that between adjacent series of openings 94 on thecylinder 30. These notches are adapted to receive a roller |05 mountedon a lever |06 which is pivotally mounted on an angle iron |01 carriedby the plate 25. The lever 06 is normally held by a spring |08 so as toforce the roller |05 into one of the notches |04. The notches |04 are sopositioned that the roller 05 holds the finger 95 in operative relationwith one of the series of openings 94 on the cylinder 30. The verticalmovement of the plate 98 is limited by the engagement of its bottom ange|00 with the underside of the plate 25 and by the engagement of itsupper flange |00 with a collar |09 carried by the rod I0| so that theroller |05 can always enter one of the notches |04.

The selector handle I4 is rigidly mounted on a pin ||0 which is mountedon a lever which lever is pivotally mounted on an angle iron ||2 whichis mounted on the plate 25. The lever extends through an invertedU-shaped guide ||3 and terminates adjacent the face of the plate 98. Itis maintained in a mid position by means of oppositely directed springsI4, so that it is free to swing up or down when actuated by the selectorhandle 4, as may be desired. This swinging movement in either directionis limited by set screws |5 mounted on the guide member ||3 andA on theplate 2:5. Adjacent its free end, the lever IH has pivotally mountedupon it two diverging fingers |6 which have pointed ends adapted toenter openings ||1 formed in the plate 98. These openings have the samespacing as the notches |04 and are eight in number. The curved points ofthe fingers I I6 are separated by a bar I8 supported from the plate 25,as shown in Fig. 4. They are connected together by means of a spring II9 and are adapted to engage a pin |20 mounted between them, as bestseen in Fig. 3. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be noted that theends of the ngers ||6 normally project towards two openings ||1. Whenthe lever III is swung upwardly the lower linger I I6 is detained by thebar ||8 and is swung away from the plate 98. The spring I I9 and theupward movement of the pivot of the upper finger I|6 causes this nger toproject into the opening towards which it was directed. The swinging ofthe upper finger I I6 brings it into contact with a pin |20 andthereafter the upward` movement of the lever I I I forces the plate 98upwardly. This movement is limited by the pin II5 so that the plate 98moves upwardly by a distance equal to the spacing of the notches |04. Ifthe selector handle I4 is pressed downwardly, the reverse operationoccurs, the upper finger ||6 being withdrawn from the plate 98 and thelower finger ||6 becoming effective to thrust the plate 98 downwardly bya distance equal to the spacing of the notches |04.

The plate 98 is provided with an opening |2| which receives the reducedend of a lever |22. This lever is pivotally mounted on the angle iron||2. The lever |22 is connected by a link |23 to a short arm |24 of alever |25. The lever |25 carries a sector |26 which bears indicia, suchas numbers and colors corresponding to the numbers and colors of thehorses I 3. It will be readily understood that six parts of the sector|26 may be observed through the opening |5 and these portions correspondwith six positions of the nger 95, which in turn corresponds to the sixseries of openings 94 in the cylinder 39 and to the six openings 21 inthe cylinder 26, each of the openings 21 corresponding to one of thehorses and to the similarly marked portion of the sector |26. It willreadily be understood that when a certain horse wins, that is, when thedisc 20 becomes arrested with one of the openings 21 in alignment withthe linger 95, then the visible portion of the sector |26 shows the samenumber and color as the horse at the winning post. The weight of theplate 98 and associated parts is counterpoised to some extent by aspring |21 connected to the angle iron ||2 and to the end of the lever|22 remote from the plate 98.

The plate 98 is provided along its rear edge, that is the edge oppositethe notches |04, with a series of slots |28 spaced vertically atdistances equal to the distance between the centers of ad jacent'notches|04. The slots |28 are so located that one of them is locatedimmediately above the plate 25 when the roller |05 is located in one ofthe notches |04.

A bar |29 is slidably mounted on the plate 28 inAv alignment with theslot in this position. The bar |28 is slidably mounted on the plate 25by means of pins- |39 which extend through slots in the bar. At its endremote from the plate 98, the bar |29`is `provided with an upturned end|3| which-is adapted to be engaged by the bar 64. In the initialposition of the bar 64, the bar |29 is held Aout ofthe slot |28. When,however, the bar-'64 is moved from rits initial position and while it isreturning slowly thereto, the bar |29 is here by a spring |32 within theslot |28. A stop |33 prevents excessive movement of the bar |29. The bar|29 serves to lock the selector during the play and the selector becomesunlocked again only after the spinning mechanism has become arrested andthe finger has performed its function, which function will now bedescribed.

The nger 95 comprises an integral horizontal flange |34. This flange isprovided with a slot |35 through which extends freely a screw |36rigidly mounted in an arm |31. The arm |31 is integral with a collar |38which is slidably mounted upon the shaft! 03. The shaft |93 is providedwith a longitudinal keyway |39 into which extends a projection |49carried by the collar |38. Consequently, whenever the shaft |03 isrotated in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, the finger95 is caused to slide towards the cylinders 26 and 39. The collar |38 isprovided with a circumferential groove |4| which receives a horizontalfork-shaped member |42 which is integral with the plate 98. Thisengagement causes the collar and plate to slide together vertically whenthe selector is actuated.

On the underside of the plate 25, the shaft |03 has rigidly mountedthereon an arm |43. This arm has pivotally secured thereto a link |44.The link |44 is pivotally connected to a lever |45 pivotally mounted atone end on the underside of the plate 25. At its opposite end the lever|45 carries a roller |46. The link |44 is provided at one end with aslot |41 through which passes a screw |48 rigidly mounted in an arm |49.The arm |49 is rigidly mounted on the lower end of a shaft |50 whichprojects upwardly through the plate 25. A spring |5| secured to thelever |45 and to the plate 25 tends to move the connected system so asto move the nger 95 towards the cylinders 26 and 39. The finger 95 isnormally held away from the cylinders 26 and 30 by means of a morepowerful spring |52 which is secured to the underside of the plate 25and to a lever |53.

The lever |53 is provided at one end with an elongated slot |54 wherebythe lever is pivotally mounted on the underside of the plate 25 by meansof a screw |55 extending through said slot. The lever |53 is connectedto a link |56 which is provided with an elongated slot |51 through whichpasses a pin |58 carried by the arm |43.

The normal or initial position of the mechanism is shown in Fig. 5, thatis, the spring |52 is contracted and the arm |43 is held againstmovement by the spring |5| owing to the presence of the pin |58 at theend of the slot |51. The shaft 65 on which the arm 64 is rigidly mountedextends through the plate 25 and through the timing mechanism previouslyreferred to, and carries rigidly at its lower end a lever |59. Thislever. is pivotally connected to a link |60 which, in turn, is pivotallyconnected to a lever |6| pivotally mounted on the underside of the plate25 by means of a screw |62.

One end of theV lever |6I. is adapted to engage a pin |63. When thehandle I6 is actuated, the lever |6| engages the pin |63 and moves thelink |56 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5. The link |56 is provided withan elongated slot |64 which is provided at one end with an extension|65. A latch element |66 projects downwardly from the plate 25 into theslot' |64. When the link |56 is moved the full distance by the lever 6|,the spring-|52 pulls the links |53 and |56 upwardly.

as viewed in Fig. 5, with the result that the latch member |66 entersthe extension |65 and the link |56 is thus maintained latched untilafter the timing mechanism is operated for a predetermined period oftime. The unlatching is effected by an arm |61 of the lever |6| engagingthe downturned end |68 of a bar |69 slidably mounted on the underside ofthe plate 25. The bar 69 has at its other extremity a downturned end |10which is adapted to engage the link |56. The bar |69 is biased by thespring |1| so that its extremity |10 is out of contact with the link|56. When, however, near the end of the operation of the timingmechanism the arm |61 engages projection |68, the link |56 is movedslightly so as to locate the latch |66 in the main length of the slot|64. When this occurs the strong spring |52 moves the links |53 and |56into the position shown in Fig. 5.

When the handle |6 is first actuated a cam |12, which may suitably beintegral with the arm |59, is moved into cooperation with the roller |46so as to prevent movement of the lever |45 under the action of thespring |5| which would result in the projection of the finger 95 towardsthe cylinders 26 and 88 while they are spinning. The cam |12 isrelatively broad so as to prevent this movement of the lever |95 untilnear the end of the operation of the timing mechanism. The sequence ofthe operation of the elements just described is as follows: First thehand operation of the machine causes the cam |12 to move into a positionopposite the roller |46. Second, the same movement causes the link |6|to move the link |56 to latched position. This latched position affordsa. degree of freedom for the arm |43, but movement of this arm isprevented by the engagement of the roller |46 with the cam |12. Third,the automatic operation of the timing mechanism locks the disc 28 andthe plate 28 in the manner previously described and then moves the cam|12 away from the roller |46, whereupon the spring |51 rotates the arm|43 in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5. This movement ofthe arm |43 causes the finger 95 to project towards the cylinders 26 and38. Consequently, the movement of the arm |43 and link |44 is dependentupon the openings 94 and 21 which may nnd themselves in alignment withthe finger 95, and fourth, the continued movement of the arm |59 underthe action of the timing mech- ,anism effects the unlatching of the link|56 so that the strong spring |52 moves it into the position shown inFig. 5. This movement of the link |56 eiects the withdrawal of the nger95 from the cylinders 26 and 89. Thus it will be seen that the shaft |59receives an oscillation in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5,which is dependent upon the openings 94 and 21 which may be left infront of the nger 95 at the end of the spinning of the discs 20 and 28,and then an oscillation in the opposite direction to its initialposition.

The shaft |50 extends upwardly through the plate 25 and is supported ona bearing |13 mounted on the plate 25. At its upper end the shaft |58has rigidly mounted thereon a yoke element |14 having two horizontalarms |15. These arms are provided with oppositely directed pins |16which extend into the annular space |11 between two collars !18 rigidlymounted on a rod |19. The rod |19 is mounted for sliding moverment inthe longitudinal direction so that it moves a distance corresponding tothe movement of the finger 95 whenever that linger is actuated.

The rod |19 is supported at one end by the reduced portion |80 of ashaft |8|, which reduced portion extends into a bore at said end of therod |19. At its forward end the rod |19 is supported by passing throughan opening |82 in a supporting member |83 which is mounted on the plate25. The supporting member |83 carries a key |88 which extends into akeyway |85 in the rod |19 and prevents this rod from turning.

The rod |19 also passes through a supporting member |86 also mounted onthe plate 25. The rear end of the rod |19 is provided with a flange |91and a star wheel |88 is mounted on the rod |19 adjacent the flange. Thestar wheel |88 is held in position by means of a collar |89 rigidlymounted on the rod. The collar |89 is provided with a spring-pressedball |98 which is adapted to enter into openings |9| on the adjacentface of the star wheel |88 so as to hold the star wheel set position fora purpose which will hereinafter be apparent.

The star wheel |88 is provided with a rearwardly extending post |92which carries a springpressed pawl |98 which is adapted to cooperatewith ratchet teeth |94 formed on the shaft |8|. The ratchet teeth |94are relatively long so that the pawl |93 may remain in contacttherewith, notwithstanding a considerable sliding movement of the rod|19 relative to the shaft i8 'I'he shaft |8| is rotatably mounted in abearing |95 and is held against longitudinal movement by means of a pin|96 which extends into an annular groove in the shaft. Adjacent its rearend the shaft |8| carries a radially projecting pin |96 which extendsfreely through an elongated slot |91 in a short arm |98 which is rigidlymounted on the shaft 5|. Every time the handle |6 is actuated, the shaftI8! is oscillated in one direction and then oscillated in the oppositedirection back to its initial position. The effect of these oscillationsis to rotate the star wheel |88 through a predetermined angle in onedirection. The angle through which the star wheel |88 is turned iscorrelated with the number of teeth |99 on the star wheel |88. With fiveteeth, a rotation of 36 degrees is suitable, this being the anglethrough which the star wheel |88 turns in order to bring a gap 288 intothe position occupied by one of the next adjacent teeth |99. The teethof the star wheel |88 rotate through slots 28| formed in rack bars 282.These rack bars are guided in suitable openings in the supports |83 and|86. They are drawn rearwardly by springs 283, the rearward movementbeing limited by stops 294, which engage the support |86. These rackbars 282 are located in diametric opposition relative to the star wheel|88.

As readily seen in Fig. '1, owing to the odd number of teeth |99, one ofthese teeth is located within the slot 20| of one of the bars 282 sothat when the star wheel |88 is moved in an axial direction that toothwill engage that bar and actuate it, whereas the other bar 202 willremain unaffected. In Fig. 1 the bar 282 on the left-hand side is theone which can be actuated by the star wheel |88. After the handle I6 hasbeen actuated the condition will be reversed and the star wheel |88 willbe brought into position for operation of the right-hand bar 202. Thusit will readily be understood that as the device is operated asuccessive number of times, the bars 282 are operated alternately andthe degree of movement imparted to them depends upon the movement of thefinger 95 which causes their operation. The slots 20| are somewhatlarger than the thickness of the teeth of the star wheel |88 so that adegree of free motion of the star wheel, corresponding to the movementof the finger 95 through one of the openings 94 into Contact with thecylinder 26, is permitted Without any corresponding actuation of the bar292. If, however, the finger 95 moves to a greater extent owing to thepresence of the appropriate opening 2l in alignment with the finger,then the appropriate bar 202 is moved longitudinally. The degree of thismovement depends upon the particular opening 49 through which the finger95 passes. From the previous description it will readily be understoodthat this degree of movement may correspond to odds of V1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.

'Ihe bars 292 are adapted' to cooperate with pinions205 of the counters8so that the odds acquired by each player or each team is added upseparately and alternately onv the two counters I8. The readings ofthese counters are visible through windows 207V in the wall of thecabinet, and the readings of the counters can be returned to zero byactuating the button located on the exterior of the cabinet.

It is believed that the operation of the device will readily beunderstood from the foregoing description. For the sake of completenessa short description of the operation is now given.

The button is first actuated to bring the readings of the counters I8 tozero. Then the first player actuates the selecto-r handle l5 so as tobring the number and color of the horse he selects to win into registerwith the window l5. Then he actuates the handle 6, spinning the disc 29and plate 28, latching the link |56 in an operactive position and movingthe cam V|'|2 so as tot prevent movement of the finger 95. 'Ihe selectorbecomes locked owing to the movement of the lever 64 from normalposition. The gradual return of this lever against the opposition of thetiming mechanism arrests the disc 20 and then the plate 28. Then the cam|72 clears the roller |46 and allows the spring |5| to move the finger95 towards the cylinders 26 and 30 to an amount depending upon theopenings which may be in alignment with the finger. This movement iscommunicated to the particular counter indicating the results of thatplayer. If the selected horse does not Win, the reading of that counterremains at zero. If the horse wins, the appropriate opening 2l is leftin alignment with the finger 95 `and theextent of the movement of thefinger depends upon the location of the opening 49 which is left inalignment with the finger. Consequently, the appropriate odds are addedto the reading of the counter. 'I'he machine is next operated by theAopposing player inthesame manner, except that owing to the alternationprovided by the star wheel |88, the winning score, if any, is recordedin the other counter.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with thespecific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must beunderstood that such details are not intended to be limitative of theinvention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims. Y

Having thus describedhmy invention, what I Claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is: Y

1. A game apparatus comprising two separate rotatable members,concentric cylinders on said members located one within the other, saidcylinders being provided with openings, a generally tapering fingeradaptedto enter an opening in the outer cylinder and into any opening inthe inner cylinder in alignment therewith, means forcing said fingerinto said openings, and means for withdrawing it therefrom, the openingsin the inner cylinders being at various heights to vary the degree ofentry of said pin.

2. A game apparatus comprising two separate rotatable members, twocylinders on said members, one within the other provided with openings,a finger adapted to enter aligned openings in said cylinders, means forspinning said members, means for arresting said members, means forforcing said finger into said openings, means on said finger forengaging one of said cylinders to limit the entry of said finger, andmeans actuated by said finger in accordance with the degree of entry ofsaid finger.

3. A game apparatus comprising two separate rotatable concentric membersprovided with openings, means for arresting said members, a steppedfinger adapted to enter openings in alignment therewith and engage oneof said concentric members to limit said entry, resilient means forcingsaid finger into said openings, and means for withdrawing it therefrom.

4. A game apparatus comprising two separate rotatable concentric membersprovided with openings, means for arresting said members, a generallytapered finger adapted to enter openings in alignment therewith andengage one of said concentric members, resilient means forcing saidfinger into said openings, means for withdrawing it therefrom, and meansactuated by said finger corresponding to the degree of the entry of thefinger into the openings,

5. A game apparatus comprising two separate rotatable concentric membersprovided With openings, means for arresting said members, a generallytapered finger adapted to enter openings in alignment therewith to thedegree permitted by the location of the openings, the finger beingadapted to be arrested by engagement with one of said concentricmembers, resilient means forcing said finger into said openings, meansfor withdrawing `it therefrom, and a counter actuated by said nger to adegree corresponding to the degree of entry of the finger into theopenings.

6. A game apparatus comprising two separate rotatable concentric membersprovided with openings, means for arresting said members, a generallytapered finger adapted to enter openings in alignment therewith to thedegree permitted by the location of the openings, the finger beingadapted to be arrested by engagement with one of said concentricmembers, resilient means forcing said finger into said openings, meansfor withdrawing it therefrom, a pair of counters adapted to be actuatedby said finger to a degree corresponding to the degree of entry of thefinger into the openings, and means for alternately connecting saidfinger to said counters.

7. A game apparatus comprising two separate rotatable concentric membersprovided with openings, means for arresting said members, a generallytapered finger adapted to enter openings in alignment therewith to thedegree permitted by the location of the openings, the finger beingadapted to be arrested by engagement with one of said concentricmembers, resilient means forcing said finger into said openings, meansfor withdrawing it therefrom, means for spinning the rotatable members,and delayed means for arresting said members with openings therein inalignment, for forcing the finger into said openings, and forwithdrawing said iinger in the order stated.

8. A game apparatus comprising two separate rotatable concentric membersprovided with openings, means for arresting said members, a steppedfinger adapted to enter openings in alignment therewith, resilient meanstending to force said finger into said openings, stronger resilientmeans tending to hold said iinger out of said openings, a timingmechanism, a cam adapted to hold said finger against actuation by theiirst said resilient means, means for spinning the rtatable members,rendering said stronger resilient means inoperative and energizing saidtiming mechanism, and bringing the cam into operative position, andmeans for arresting said members with openings therein in alignmentcontrolled by said timing mechanism, said timing mechanism being adaptedto move said cam to an inoperative position, thereby permitting the rstsaid resilient means to project the linger into said openings, and torelease the stronger resilient means to effect the withdrawal of saidiinger.

9. In a game apparatus, in combination, a pair of concentric cylinders,one of said cylinders having a plurality of large openings in onecylinder arranged at different heights, the other cylinder having acorresponding number of circumferential series of openings, each seriesbeing adapte-d to cooperate with one of the first said openings, eachseries having its openings staggered in the vertical direction, and alinger having a series of cylinder-engaging surfaces located at variousheights distributed in the longitudinal direction of the linger, saidfinger being adapted to enter into aligned openings to a varying degreedepending upon the location of the particular openings.

l0. In a game apparatus, in combination, a pair of concentric cylinders,one of said cylinders having a plurality of large openings in onecylinder arranged at diierent heights, the other cylinder having acorresponding number of circumferential series of openings, each seriesbeing adapted to cooperate with one of the rst said openings, eachseries having its openings staggered in the vertical direction, a ngerhaving a series of cylinder-engaging surfaces located at various heightsdistributed in the longitudinal direction of the finger, said lingerbeing adapted to enter into aligned openings to a varying degreedepending upon the location of the particular openings, and means formoving said finger to various heights to' cooperate with a desired oneof said series.

ll. In a game apparatus, in combination, a pair of concentric cylinders,one of said cylinders having a plurality of large openings in onecylinder arranged at dierent heights, the other cylinder having acorresponding number of circumierential series of openings, each seriesbeing adapted to cooperate with one of the first said openings, eachseries having its openings staggered in the vertical direction, a fingerhaving a series of cylinder-engaging surfaces 1ocated at various heightsdistributed in the longitudinal direction of the finger, said nger beingadapted to enter into aligned openings to a varying degree dependingupon the location of the particular openings, means for moving said ngerto various heights to cooperate with a desired one of said series, andmeans actuated by said linger to a degree depending upon the degree ofentry of the finger into said openings.

12. In a gaine apparatus, in combination, a pair of concentriccylinders, one of said cylinders having a plurality of large openings inone cylinder arranged at different heights, the other cylinder having acorresponding number of circumferential series of openings, each seriesbe ing adapted to cooperate with one of the iirst said openings, eachseries having its openings staggered in the vertical direction, a ngerhaving a series of cylinder-engaging surfaces 1ocated at various heightsdistributed in the longitudinal direction of the finger, said fingerbeing adapted to enter into aligned openings to a varying degreedepending upon the location of the particular fingers, means for movingsaid iinger to various heights to cooperate with a desired one of saidseries, and a counter actuated by said finger to a degree depending uponthe degree of entry of the finger into said openings.

13. In a game apparatus, in combination, a pair of concentric cylinders,one of said cylinders having a plurality of large openings in onecylinder arranged at different heights, the other cylinder having acorresponding number of circumferential series of openings, each seriesbeing adapted to cooperate with one of the rst said openings, eachseries having its openings staggered in the vertical direction, a ngerhaving a series of cylinder-engaging surfaces located at various heightsdistributed in the longitudinal direction of the finger, said fingerbeing adapted to enter into aligned openings to a varying degreedepending upon the location of the particular fingers, means for movingsaid iinger to various heights to cooperate with a desired one of saidseries, a pair of counters actuated alternately by said iinger to adegree depending upon the degree of entry of the nger into saidopenings, and means for connecting each counter alternately to the nger.

GUSTAVE ERICKSON.

